All About Pocket Knives

I have posted some pics of the items we have been talking about and perhapes we can discern some more on what there history is. Eagle as I said made this type of knife . Allen had a patent . Then Wallkill River made them in fact they helped put NYK out of business because they were part of the cheapened line of Wallkill Kill river knives produced by NYK to compete with imports . The regular NYK line while a high quality product could not compete ( Sound familiar, nothing changes ) especially our own stupidity. Oh oh I better not veer off the subject or I will never get this all said. Nap as I mentioned made them as Ulery under the Allen patent. ( I believe one of the ones in the original pic I posted was a Ulery ). As was pointed out later they were made as scout knives . I posted a pic of one i have in a display of scout knives I did not take it out some of these cases can take an hour to get back together. I believe it is an imperial.

Now moving on you will notice many of the variations of these wrap around handle fold over style knives were made by G Schrade during the period that he was in his last business venture G Schrade Knife company. G Schrade was always looking for better but mainly less expensive ways to make knives. The Wire knife ( see pic for example ) the fold over and the pullball automatic were examples of attempts to make less expensive knives. Schrade realized that this was necessary in order to compete. He made this style of knife with celluloid handles and without as advertisers. and with bottle openers as souvenir knives ( see pics). He also made the large hunting fishing model ( with a lock ) this knife was continued in the line even after Schrades son sold out to Boker ( A long time pre WWI friend to the Schrade family ). Autos were the main stay of G Schrade marketed under the PRESTO line when Geo died and these were outlawed the company sold to boker.

The Geo Schrade scout mess utensil line was first marketed as a wire knife group than later the wrap around version was used. So now lets complete the circle remember Whitehead ( A principle in the the Allen venture and affialiated with Walden knife early on ). Well he was the one who found G Schrade in Brooklyn in around 1890 when he ran a patent prototype manufacturing shop. ( ie you had an invention and needed a working model to submit to the patent office Schrade built it ) Whitehead talked Geo into coming to Walden to produce press button knives. Whitehead was the general manager who apparently fell into disfavor when Simmons bought Walden knife . In 1903 geo Schrade left Walden knife to Start Schrade with his brothers ( I will not go into all the reasons for that. ) In any event he sold his rights and patents to Walden knife. Now would it seem a coincidence that Whiteheads next venture was this type of knife and years later the main proponent of this Style was Schrade. Whitehead was long gone and that patent long expired. You see it all ties together it is just the putting the pieces together which can perplex.

I also posted a picture of another knife ( the lower part of this display has this style of knives not nudes, this knife pattern with unusual subjets ). When ever I open this display I look at this knife she was a beautiful woman with an allure I have never seen equaled. She was of course Maryln Monroe. LT

thanks, LT!

This Allen Cutlery Co., Newburgh, N.Y. knife arrived yesterday.
No tang stamp(s), just the one handle stamp.

Looks to be in very good shape, NW... very hard to find... nice catch...

This Allen Cutlery Co., Newburgh, N.Y., Pat. Jan 23 1917,
single blade pocket knife arrived today. Tang & handle
stamped. It will make a great companion to my other
Allen Cutlery Co. knife.

Here is my display of a complete set of Allens and original advertisment. Sorry the pic is not better. Regards LT

Hi LT. I saw the pics of your collection in this thread.
Very, very impressive. It's your "fault" that I have
these 2 particular knives. I didn't know Allen Cutlery
even existed, let alone in Newburgh (and I lived in New
Windsor 18 years), until I read your book. So I went
looking and found the 2, previously posted knives (so far).

They are around usually at a good price. while these were made under Allen. basicly the same knife was made under Ulery produced by Napanoch. Also Walden knife made this style. One of the big wheels at Allen had been or later was with Walden knife and introduced it to there line. Times were different then and what was normal then is rightly considered taboo now, Notice the large folder advertised in the ad on the bottom right. That model was sold under the name of the NIGGER CHASER, Certainly not a term that is acceptable and I mention it with an apology and only to show what was then acceptable and is a part of history. There is a quote I try to remember " There is nothing new only history that has been forgotten " I hope no one was offended. LT

I'm not offended. It is what it is. I've read this whole thread,
top to bottom, more than a few times and just love the
history that you, LT, attach to the Allen brand & of course, the
other Hudson Valley brands. I am "investigating" the heck out of
Allen myself. I found this to be VERY interesting and it is from you,
LT (vintage).

Allen Cutlery Co Newburgh NY the only knife company ever from Newburgh, Catskill Knife company ( a red herring should not be listed was made in NYC and given a local name, like the Cornwall in the question example.) Cooperative Knife Co ( Supposed First name and tang given to Ellenville Knife then Ulster Knife CO by the original workers who split from Walden knife to form the new company. Ulster Knife Co, (Ellenville.) Walden knife CO, (Walden Walden Knife works (Walden.) same. Schrade Cut Co ( Walden Ellenville ). Schrade Walden Cut Corp ( Ellenville ) . Imperial ( original Prov RI then Ellenville ). Press Button Knife Corp ( Walden Knife Walden ). Napanoch ( Napanoch 3 miles from Ellenville ). Grahamsville in business for one year 10 miles up the road from Naponoch. Dwight Divine & Sons ( Ulster Ellenville ). Kingston ( Kingston NY Div of Ulster ). D & S Ultra Rare made for short period on machinery from Walden knife ( Walden). Ellenville Knife Co ( First real name of Ulster knife ( Ellenville ) . Electric Knife Co. Made be New York Knife made in Walden and the Newark NJ. OVB, HibSpeBar ( Hibbard Spencer and Bartlett, Black Diamond. Ajax, Hibbard, John Primble, All contracts made by Schrade or Ulster ( Ellenville ). Uncle Henry, ( Ellenville Schrade ). Honk Falls ( Napanoch ). Imperial (Ellenville). I XL Schrade for 4 years 76 till 80 Ellenville. Hammer New York knife Walden then Ellenville under the Ulster conglomerate . Schrade Wostenholm ( same as IXL ) . Rodgers Under the same IXL grouping (Ellenville). Keen Cutlery Co. Made by Napanoch first, then Walden Knife ( Keen Kutter ) then Schrade ( Walden and Ellenville ). Wallkill River Works ( New York Knife Walden ) cheap line that helped bankrupt New York Knife. Shapleigh Hdwe and variations ( Contract made by Walden knife then Schrade ( Walden and Ellenville ). Remington Napanoch originally then bought out Napanoch and move away however contracts made by Walden and Schrade now made by camillous. Parker Frost ( Schrade ) .
Sears Roebuck Schrade and Ulster (Ellenville). Kon Kav ( Schrade Ellenville ). Russel R & Arrow ( Schrade ). A G Russell Schrade (Ellenville.) Warwick Knife, Tied up witH New York Knife ( might also have been made in Warwick ). Orange Cut Co. In business for on year made knives on machinery acquired from Walden knife when it closed by employees trying to make a go of it ( Walden) in a garage ( which is still there today there are not knives in oit I have looked ). Nagle Reblade Poughkeepsie NY Kipsi Kut Poughkeepsie NY.Co O knife company ( I believe was the same as Orange.). New York knife Mattewan NY now called Beacon then Walden. Wardlow original English then made by New York Knive perhapes when the Tarriffs made English knives to expensive. For whatever reason they were also made in Walden.

Here is the parts diagram for an Allen Cutlery Co. pocket knife. Click on the link to see the patent application.
http://www.google.com/patents?id=uCxGAA ... fe#PPP1,M1

Lot of info, nice knives fellas.
Thanks

I received, via USPS, my 3rd Allen Cutlery Company, Newburgh, N.Y. knife today.
All 3 are stamped differently. The first 6 pictures are of the "newest" Allen knife. The LAST PICTURE shows all three Allen knives.
The 1st or "top" knife, single blade, has the upper part of the handle stamped ALLEN over CUTLERY CO. over NEWBURGH,N.Y. and the lower part of the handle, same side, is stamped PAT. over JAN - 23 - 17 over U.S.A. No tang stamp(s).
The 2nd or "middle" knife, single blade, has the lower part of the handle stamped PAT. over JAN - 23 - 17 over U.S.A. and has ALLEN over CUTLERY CO. over NEWBURGH,N.Y. stamped on the blade tang.
The 3rd or "bottom" knife, 2 blades, has ALLEN over CUTLERY CO. over NEWBURGH,N.Y. stamped in the middle of the handle. No tang stamp(s).

Just got back from the post office with this knife. I am 99.99% sure that it ISN'T an ALLEN CUTLERY CO. NEWBURGH, N.Y. knife.
Is it a Schrade?, a Wallkill River?, an Eagle? Same well made, simple design, but "reversed." Half stop, great snap and no blade wobble. The only mark/stamp (that I could find) is MADE IN USA on the tang. The handle is covered in some kind of textured coating (after production?). If there is a stamp or stamps on the handle, they could be covered with the coating. The first 9 pictures are of the knife. Picture 10, I tried to get a closeup of the coating texture. Pictures 11, 12 & 13 (next post down) show it next to an ALLEN CUTLERY CO. knife. You can see how they are completely opposite of each other. So what company made this one?

Here are the rest of the pictures.

Got the 3 ALLEN CUTLERY CO siblings to pose with the unknown relative.

I received this Allen Cutlery Co., Newburgh, N.Y., two blade pocket knife, yesterday. I really like these all metal, simple design knives. This one fits in nicely with my other 3 Allens. I'm still searching for the patterns that I don't already have, to complete the "series."

I have posted a display and ad for the Allen company previously. However as will happen around here while looking for something else I found a few pieces you might like to see. there aare four Allen type knives one has a niagara Falls shield obviously a souvenir knife it is marked only Made in USA. Most Allens have a single piece wrap around handle that you can see through bottom to top. However the 2 blade version seems to have a backspring. Apparently the top rivit could be large or small headed rivit. I included a pic of an Allen box that turned up. Also I ran across a group of Eagle knives These also had a single piece handle however it was bent so that it covered the back of the knife they also do not seem to have a back spring however the back of the one piece handle seems to help serve that purpose. I also included a NYK Wallkill river knife which it seems to have an eagle type handle but no backspring and to me almost seems like a combination of the Allen and Eagle. I have also seen these from Walden Knife I think I have one but I have no idea where it is. LT PS I was just putting these knives away and saw another one which I have no idea about it is a modern military style 2 blade and I have never seen another????? it is marked Allen Newburgh NY

lt632ret wrote:I have posted a display and ad for the Allen company previously. However as will happen around here while looking for something else I found a few pieces you might like to see. there aare four Allen type knives one has a niagara Falls shield obviously a souvenir knife it is marked only Made in USA. Most Allens have a single piece wrap around handle that you can see through bottom to top. However the 2 blade version seems to have a backspring. Apparently the top rivit could be large or small headed rivit. I included a pic of an Allen box that turned up. Also I ran across a group of Eagle knives These also had a single piece handle however it was bent so that it covered the back of the knife they also do not seem to have a back spring however the back of the one piece handle seems to help serve that purpose. I also included a NYK Wallkill river knife which it seems to have an eagle type handle but no backspring and to me almost seems like a combination of the Allen and Eagle. I have also seen these from Walden Knife I think I have one but I have no idea where it is. LT PS I was just putting these knives away and saw another one which I have no idea about it is a modern military style 2 blade and I have never seen another????? it is marked Allen Newburgh NY

I always enjoy seeing new Allen patterns and variations. A few posts ago (page 2), I posted pictures of a red handled knife that looks like the green handled knife in the third picture that you just posted. I now have two of them and I don't know which company made them. The only stamp is MADE IN USA. Here they are, click to enlarge.

I just bought this knife a few minutes ago. When I receive it, I'll give it the once over and post MY pictures in the appropriate location(s). These pictures are the seller's.

Well I received it this past Friday. My fifth Allen Cutlery Company pocket knife. This one is stamped on the handle and on the tang. It is the shortest one out of the five, measuring at 3 1/8" closed. The "before" pictures are in the post just above this one. I gave it a gentle cleaning and here are MY pictures.

This one is on eBay for a, in my opinion, ridiculously high price.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Allen- ... Swm-1criCL
Any guesses as to what the hole in the rear of the handle is/was for? A home installed, but now missing bail?
I've never seen, nor do I own, any Allen Cutlery Co. knife with 3 pins/rivets. So I don't think the hole is a missing pin or rivet. It's hard to see, but the hole is on both handle sides.
The pictures below are the seller's.

Today I obtained this Allen Cutlery Company pocket knife. I'll clean it up when I receive it and post MY pictures in the appropriate location(s). These pictures are the seller's.

Last night I bought this Allen Cutlery Company pocket knife. It's the elusive No. 20, the Ni--er Chaser. Not my term, that's what it's called (see page 1). I'll clean it up when I receive it and post MY pictures in the appropriate location(s). These pictures are the seller's.

This Allen Cutlery Company pocket knife arrived today. Each blade has a tang stamp. It received a good cleaning. The "before" pictures are 2 posts above this one. These are MY pictures. Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

I came across this newspaper clipping while searching for other information. It is from the Poughkeepsie Eagle News, dated Aug 22, 1925. I have no further information as regards the information given in the clipping. Just thought you might be interested in it, Skip. Clicking on the image will enlarge it enough to be read.